European Robotics Week: Building the Robotics Society

About European Robotics Week…

The European Robotics Week (ERW) was conceived at the European Robotics Forum (ERF) 2011 by the desire of the European Robotics community to bring robotics research and development closer to the public and to build the future Robotics Society. Since then and every year, the ERW has offered one week of various robotics related activities across Europe for the general public, highlighting the growing importance of robotics in a wide variety of application areas and the growing importance of skills in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

STEM subjects are increasingly becoming an important part of basic literacy in today’s knowledge society, and we need to continue developing and growing Europe’s future scientists and researchers to close a skills gap, which by 2020 will require us to have an additional one million individuals! ERW therefore aims at inspiring technology education in students of all ages to pursue careers in STEM-related fields.

Science education can no longer be viewed as an exclusive endeavour for future scientists or engineers. It has to engage in dialogue on science-driven societal issues, since only science-conscious citizens can make informed decisions.

Why Robots?

Simply because Robots occupy the minds of everyone. Tens of thousands of school children in Europe, who may have no interest in technical subjects, change their mind as a result of these essential interactions. The interaction with robots complements the overall teaching experience and helps to motivate young people of any age to learn not only the basics of STEM, but also to direct them on to an independent exploratory, self-motivated learning path.

Stimulating this key sector, especially through the youth and all grown-ups who want to join the many tours and events, has another, equally important effect: to raise awareness of the type of impact that robots can have in our society. Robotics provides a solution to many of the current and future societal challenges, such as: working in dangerous fields of work, or taking care of disabled and elderly people.

Central Event

Every year the ERW changes the central event and hosts an eco-system of various events in the chosen location. During ERW 2015 the heart of the European Robotics Week was a series of events in Bristol, UK organised by euRobotics AISBL and the Bristol Robotics Laboratory.

How to get involved…

Organise an event

Join an event

Become a national coordinator

Future Events, Partners and Sponsors

After such a raving success in 2015, the European Robotics Week team is keen to make to ERW2016 even bigger and better than the last. To support their work and the project of further increasing the outreach of ERW, the secretariat is looking for future sponsorship. We would encourage all companies and individuals who are like minded and want to support the goal of bringing robotics closer to the public to contact us on: secretariat@eu-robotics.net